Fabric design panels for wearing apparel

ABSTRACT

Fabric and other design panels are attached to wearing apparel such as shoes, boots and belts and in one embodiment, the design panels include various shaped panel configurations conforming to the shape of designated areas and surfaces on the wearing apparel. In another embodiment the panel configurations are placed under open shaped areas or surfaces. The design panels typically have a selected printed bandana design or indicia of selected color. In a preferred embodiment shaped bandana design panels are adhesively attached to selected areas and surfaces on walking and gym shoes and belts, as well as boots, wherein the various bandana design panels are configured to fit on or over the specific surface areas on the shoes and belts. Alternatively, the design surfaces are open to define a window and a backing panel having a bandana design is positioned under the open design surfaces.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by referenceprior filed copending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/628,889,Filed Nov. 18, 2004.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Articles of clothing such as footwear having customized displays such aslogos, emblems and the like, particularly in the sporting field, arewell known in the art. These displays are typically printed on thearticle or they may be stitched on the wearing apparel according toproduction techniques which are known to those skilled in the art.

The present invention relates to fabric and alternative material designpanels for adhesive application to articles of clothing and wearingapparel and in particular, to shaped printed bandana design panels foradhesive application to various surface panel segments, design surfacesor areas on shoes, boots, belts and the like. The design panels areconfigured to conform to the existing panel or surface areas on thewearing apparel or to the bottom perimeters of open panel or surfaceareas and are typically glued or stitched in place.

The printed bandana design panels of this invention are provided inselected panel shapes which are applied to correspondingly-shapedsurface areas of wearing apparel such as footwear and belts, in desiredlocations and in specific color and design configurations, to presentwearing apparel having a pleasing appearance to the eye. In a preferredembodiment of the invention various shaped fabric or alternativematerial toe panels, side panels, inside and outside heel panels, solepanels and instep panels of selected material, character, color anddesign are adhesively applied to or stitched on footwear, and beltpanels are glued or stitched on belts, in non-exclusive particular, atdesignated closed or open surface locations to enhance the appearance ofthe footwear and belt products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of theinvention, wherein a first set of fabric or alternative materialfootwear design panels is stitched or adhesively applied in the form ofshaped bandana designs having a specified color or colors, to variouscorrespondingly-shaped surface locations on a typical walking or runningshoe;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, partially exploded view of the shoe and toepanel illustrated in FIG. 1, more particularly illustrating applicationof the toe panel having a desired shape, character, design and color tothe correspondingly-shaped toe surface area of the shoe;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative shoe design, moreparticularly illustrating application of a fabric or alternative insideand outside heel/instep panel design to correspondingly-shaped surfacesof the shoe;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a belt having a belt panel characterizedby a specific bandana color and design, typically adhesively applied orstitched to the outside surface of the belt.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the sole margin and bottomelements of a shoe, more particularly illustrating bandana designs on aselected material applied thereto;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention, which includes a shoe having selected open design areas orsurfaces superimposed on a backing panel having a selected design;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a typical open area or surface and abacking panel glued or stitched to the bottom perimeter thereof, takenalong line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a walking shoe having selected openareas or surfaces with bandana design backing panels underneath the openareas or surfaces;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a woman's boot having selected designpanels of this invention applied thereto; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a typical cowboy boot having selecteddesign panels applied thereto according to this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, in a firstpreferred embodiment of the invention a typically fabric toe panel 1 isshaped to fit on the corresponding toe 32 and instep 37 (FIG. 2) of aconventional running, gym or walking shoe 29, having a sole 31, a tongue34 and laces 35. The toe panel 1 is characterized by a toe panel design2 of selected material, character and color or colors, typicallyincluding a bandana print, design or indicia such as the bandana designsknown as the “European” and “Spain” designs, in non-exclusiveparticular. It will be understood and appreciated by those skilled inthe art that the toe panel design 2 and other design features of the toepanel 1 and other fabric panel designs of this invention may be selectedas desired by the designer, manufacturer and wearer of the shoe 29.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the typically fabrictoe panel 1 is cut, stamped or otherwise shaped to conform to the shapeof the toe portion 32 and the instep 37, located rearwardly of the toemargin 33 of the shoe 29 and may be secured in place by means of fabriccement or other glue or adhesive, according to the knowledge of thoseskilled in the art. Alternatively, the toe panel 1 can be secured inplace by stitching 6. Accordingly, the toe panel 1 is configured todefine an instep curve 3 which follows the curve of the top portion ofthe instep 37, as well as an opposite toe curve 4 that tracks the instepmargin 38 of the instep 37 and toe portion 32. Panel flaps 5 are alsotypically shaped in the upper portions of the toe panel 1 and extenddownwardly toward the sole 31 of the shoe 29, to further follow thecontour of the instep margin 38 of the shoe 29 illustrated in FIG. 2.

In another aspect of the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2 of the drawings, a pair of typically fabric side panels 7 are applied,either adhesively or by the stitching 6, to correspondingly-shapedsurface areas on both sides of the shoe 29, respectively, including theillustrated arch side 39 and the opposite side (not illustrated) of theshoe 29 from the arch side 39. The side panels 7 each include a selectedfabric side panel print or design 8 having a desired color or colors. Itwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the side paneldesign 8 and the color or colors of the side panels 7 may conform tothat of the toe panel design 2 on the toe panel 1, or the design andcolor or colors may be different, according to the desires of designersand users who are skilled in the art. Furthermore, the side panels 7each typically extend from a side panel base 9 above the sole 31 to aside panel tip 10, as further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. It will beappreciated and understood that the shape and extent of the side panels7 will be determined by, and matches, the underlying shape of theparticular shoe surface panel areas provided on both sides of the shoe29.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a typicallyfabric heel panel 12 may also be included in the design format for theshoe 29, with or without the toe panel 1 and the side panels 7.Furthermore, the heel panel 12 is characterized by a heel panel print ordesign 13 that may typically correspond in color and design or indiciaconfiguration to both the toe panel design 2 and the side panel design8, or either of them, but may be different in one or both aspects,according to the desires of the designer. Accordingly, both the color orcolors and the design indicia or print constituency of the heel paneldesign 13 may be the same as or different from the print layout andcolor of the toe panel design 2 and that of the side panel design 8, asfurther dictated by the designer. The heel panel 12 is typicallycharacterized by a heel panel base 14 that begins near the top of theshoe 9 at the ankle margin 36 and extends downwardly and forwardly onthe shoe heel 30, to a heel panel tip 15 on each side of the shoe 29. Asin the case of the toe panel 1 and the side panels 7, the heel panel 12typically conforms to an underlying, correspondingly-shaped applicationsurface area of specified shape in the heel area of the shoe 29 and istypically characterized by a shaped bandana fabric portion that isapplied to the heel area of the shoe 29 by means of a suitable adhesive.Alternatively, stitching 6 may be used to secure the heel panel 12 tothe underlying heel surface area. The heel panel 12 is typically appliedto the upper area of the shoe heel 30 below the ankle margin 36, asfurther illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, in another preferred embodimentof the invention a walking, running or gym-type shoe 29 having adifferent surface area construction or configuration from that of theshoe illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, is illustrated. A typically fabricheel/instep panel 17 is characterized by a heel/instep panel print ordesign 18 of selected character indicia and color or colors and isapplied by a suitable fabric glue or adhesive or the stitching 6 to theshoe 29. The heel/instep panel 17 extends from the shoe heel 30 at aheel/instep base 19, forwardly and upwardly to a heel instep panelmidsection 20. From the heel/instep panel midsection 20, the heel/insteppanel 17 projects forwardly and downwardly on both sides of the shoe 29,along the laces 35 and terminates at the toe portion 32 of the shoe 29,in a heel/instep tip 21. A heel/instep panel top margin 22 typicallyparallels the side portions of the ankle margins 36 of the shoe 29 fromthe heel/instep panel base 19, forwardly to the heel/instep midsection20, as further illustrated in FIG. 3. It will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that the heel/instep indicia or design 18 ispreferably a bandana print or design and may be selected by the designertypically from the bandana designs known as the “European” and “Spain”designs, or other selected designs and prints having a desiredcharacter, design indicia and color or colors, according to theknowledge of those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, a belt 26 is illustrated andincludes a buckle 27. A typically fabric belt panel 24 is typicallyglued or stitched on the belt 26 using a suitable adhesive or cement andtypically extends from the buckle 27 to the terminal end of the belt 26,as illustrated. As in the case of the toe panel design 2, side paneldesign 8, heel panel design 13 and the heel/instep panel design 18 forshoes illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the belt panel print ordesign 25 is typically characterized by a typically fabric bandanadesign such as the “European” and “Spain” designs, but may becharacterized by other selected designs having selected designcharacter, indicia and color, as desired. Further as in the case of thevarious panel prints or designs illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 applied to theshoes 29, the belt panel 24 is typically applied to the belt 26 by meansof a suitable cement or fabric glue or adhesive or by stitching (notillustrated) selected by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawings in another preferred embodimentof the invention, a sole margin design 41 is provided on the sole margin31 a of the sole 31 of a shoe 29. Furthermore, a sole bottom design 42may also be imprinted or otherwise provided on the sole bottom 31 b ofthe sole 31 of the shoe 29 as further illustrated in FIG. 5. It will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that the sole margin design 41and/or the sole bottom design 42 may be imprinted on a suitable materialand applied by a suitable adhesive in the manner detailed above withrespect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings or by stitching(not illustrated), according to the knowledge of those skilled in theart.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, a shoe 29 may be fittedwith open areas 47 which conform to a specific design configuration andmay be typically secured in place by the stitching 6. Furthermore,various underlying correspondingly shaped design backing panels 49 maybe provided underneath the corresponding open areas 47 to define an openarea margin 48, as further illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings.Accordingly, the bottom or backing panels 49 may be each either glued tothe corresponding underlying area of the shoe 29 or may be stitched inplace beneath the corresponding open areas 47 using the stitching 6, asdesired. Furthermore, each of the open areas 47 and correspondingbacking panels 49 may be applied to the variously shaped design areas,including but not limited to the toe panel 1, side panel 7 and the heelpanel 12. Furthermore, the thickness of the respective open area margins48 will depend upon the material chosen for the shoe 29. Moreover, thecorresponding toe panel design 2, side panel design 8 and heel paneldesign 13 provided in the toe panel 1, side panel 7 and the heel panel12, in non-exclusive particular, may be chosen from a particular bandanadesign chosen by the manufacturer or, the wearer in the case of customdesign shoes.

Referring again to FIG. 8 of the drawings a hiking boot 44 isillustrated, having lace eyes 43 fitted with laces 35 and provided withside panels 7 having an open areas 47 superimposed on a backing panel 49having a selected side panel design 8. Each side panel design 8 istypically chosen from a fabric or alternative material bandana designand may be either glued to a designated underlying area in the hikingboot 44 or stitched therein by the stitching 6. Accordingly, the sidepanel design 8 is presented within the confines of each correspondingopen area 47 and an open area margin 48 is created to present “depth” tothe underlying backing panels 49.

In still another preferred embodiment of the invention a woman's boot 50is illustrated in FIG. 9 and has an elevated woman's boot heel 51 andtoe portion 32, as well as a sole 31 and a sole margin 31 a. A boot band52 is typically provided around the upper portion or ankle margin 36 ofthe woman's boot 50 and typically includes two or more band loops 53 forsecuring the boot band 52 in place. A band design 54 may be provided onthe boot band 52 and is typically selected from one of several bandanadesigns. In a preferred embodiment the band loop 53 is sewn or otherwiseattached to the ankle margin 36 and is constructed of fabric or analternative material and the band design 54 may be printed thereon orotherwise applied, according to the knowledge of those skilled in theart. Furthermore, a heel panel design 13 may be provided on the heelpanel 12 of the woman's boot 50 and a toe panel design 2 applied to thetoe panel 1 at the toe portion 32 of the woman's boot 50, as furtherillustrated in FIG. 9. As in the case of the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 1-8 of the drawings and described above, the heel panel design 13and the toe panel design 2 may be secured in position in the respectivelocations on the woman's boot 50 by means of a suitable adhesive or bystitching 6.

Referring now to FIG. 10 of the drawings, in another preferredembodiment of the invention a cowboy boot 55 is illustrated, having anupper boot portion 56 fitted with grips 57 and a typically bandanafabric upper boot portion design 58 which may be adhesively applied tothe upper boot portion 56 or attached thereto by means of stitching 6,as desired. Furthermore, a typically bandana fabric heel panel design 13is adhesively applied or stitched to the heel panel 12 at the cowboyboot heel 62 and above the cowboy boot sole 59, while a companion toepanel design 2 is similarly applied to the toe panel 1 of the toeportion 32 of the cowboy boot 55. A typically bandana design fabriclower side panel design 61 may be similarly applied to the cowboy bootlower side panel 60 above the cowboy boot sole 63.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the varioustypically fabric panel designs, prints and indicia illustrated in FIGS.1-10 of the drawings are preferably shaped from bandana designs ofselected shape, color or colors and may be applied to various types ofshoes and articles other than the running, walking or gym shoe, ladiesboot, cowboy boot and the belt wearing apparel illustrated in thedrawings. For example, the various fabric design panels can be appliedin various shapes, thicknesses, colors and design features and prints tocorresponding areas of other apparel such as purses and the like,according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

The various fabric design panels of this invention are typically cutfrom fabric or other material of selected character, thickness, colorand design indicia or print, to shape for alignment with specificsurface areas of the various wearing apparel as described above and arethen typically glued in place using a suitable fabric cement or adhesiveof selected character, or attached by the stitching 6, depending uponthe underlying material to which the panels are to be attached. Forexample, under circumstances where the panels are to be applied to aleather surface, the fabric cement or adhesive is selected forcompatibility both with the leather and the material of the panels beingapplied.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedabove, it will be recognized and understood that various modificationsmay be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

1. A decorative panel for application to wearing apparel having at leastone defined application area of selected shape, said decorative panelconfigured substantially to the defined application area of selectedshape and secured to the wearing apparel at the defined application areaof selected shape.
 2. The decorative panel of claim 1 wherein thewearing apparel is a pair of footwear and said decorative panel ischaracterized by a flexible fabric panel having at least one selectedcolor and a selected design for gluing on the defined application areaof selected shape on the footwear.
 3. The decorative panel of claim 1wherein said at least one defined application area of selected shapeincludes multiple defined application areas of selected shape on thewearing apparel and said at least one decorative panel comprises aplurality of decorative fabric panels having at least one selected colorand a selected design applied to the defined application areas ofselected shape, respectively.
 4. The decorative panel of claim 3 whereinthe wearing apparel is a pair of footwear and said decorative fabricpanels are bandana fabric panels glued to the defined application areasof selected shape on the footwear, respectively.
 5. The decorative panelof claim 4 wherein said footwear is a pair of shoes.
 6. The decorativepanel of claim 4 wherein said footwear is a pair of boots.
 7. Thedecorative panel of claim 1 wherein the wearing apparel is a belt andsaid decorative panel is characterized by at least one flexible beltpanel of selected color and design for application to the definedapplication area of selected shape on the belt.
 8. The decorative panelof claim 3 wherein the wearing apparel is a belt and said decorativefabric panels are bandana fabric panels glued to the defined applicationareas of selected shape on the belt.
 9. A decorative panel forapplication to footwear having at least one defined open surface area ofselected shape, respectively, said decorative panel substantiallyconfigured to the defined open surface area of selected shape on thefootwear and fastened to the footwear beneath the defined open surfacearea of selected shape on the footwear, respectively.
 10. The decorativepanel of claim 9 wherein said at least one defined open surface area ofselected shape includes multiple defined open surface areas of selectedshape on the footwear and said at least one decorative panel comprises aplurality of decorative panels having at least one selected color and aselected bandana design applied to the footwear beneath the defined opensurface areas of selected shape, respectively.
 11. The decorative panelof claim 10 wherein said decorative panels are characterized bydecorative bandana fabric panels and said footwear is a pair of shoes.12. The decorative panel of claim 10 wherein said decorative panels arecharacterized by decorative bandana fabric panels and said footwear is apair of boots.
 13. A decorative bandana panel for application to a beltand to footwear having at least one defined surface area of selectedshape, respectively, said decorative bandana panel configured to thedefined surface area of selected shape on the belt and the footwear andsecured to the defined surface area of selected shape on the belt andthe footwear, respectively.
 14. The decorative bandana panel of claim 13wherein said at least one defined area of selected shape ischaracterized by at least one defined open surface area of selectedshape on the belt and the footwear, respectively, and said decorativebandana panel is extended beneath said defined open surface area ofselected shape for displaying said decorative bandana panel in saiddefined open surface area of selected shape.
 15. The decorative panel ofclaim 13 wherein said footwear is a pair of shoes.
 16. The decorativepanel of claim 13 wherein said footwear is a pair of boots.